Staying Relevant Through the Power of Networking

By Paul Northway, president and CEO of American National Bank Fox Cities and the 2025–2026 WBA Chair

Relevance. It’s the theme I chose to guide my year as Chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association, and it’s an idea that has taken on more meaning with each conversation I’ve had with bankers. In an industry defined by constant change — economic shifts, new technology, ever-increasing regulatory pressures — relevance is not static. It is earned and re-earned through intentional connection, continuous learning, and a commitment to staying engaged with the broader banking community.

One of the most effective ways to maintain relevance is through networking. Networking is often misunderstood as an act of handing out business cards or exchanging LinkedIn invitations. True networking is about creating relationships that help us grow, think differently, and strengthen both our individual careers and our institutions.

The Wisconsin Bankers Association plays a vital role in making those relationships possible. WBA creates spaces where meaningful networking happens, like leadership development programs, peer groups, advocacy events, or statewide conferences.

Networking as a Strategic Imperative
Banking has always been a relationship business, but the value of internal, industry-focused relationships has never been higher. Today’s environment requires leaders to think beyond their own institutions. We are managing rapid digital transformation, recruiting and retaining new generations of talent, and building a balance sheet that weathers all storms. None of us can solve these challenges alone.

That is why networking is not a “nice to have”— it is a strategic imperative. When we talk with peers, share best practices, and learn from one another’s successes and failures, we sharpen our ability to lead. We also gain a broader perspective on the trends shaping our industry and the strategies that may help our banks outperform.

The Power of WBA Programs
The Wisconsin Bankers Association has long recognized that networking is a catalyst for leadership. Many of WBA’s most successful programs are built around structured, high-value peer connection. Three offerings, in particular, stand out as powerful examples:

• BOLT: Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow
  BOLT is one of the industry’s strongest leadership pipelines, designed to equip emerging banking professionals with the skills, confidence, and connections needed to grow into leadership roles. Participants gain practical insight through expert-led sessions while building networks that become career-long support systems. BOLT embodies the philosophy of “growing our own” by helping future leaders understand that relevance and strategic thinking must be cultivated early.
• CEOnly and CFOnly Peer Groups
  WBA’s CEO-Only and CFO-Only peer groups provide confidential forums where senior leaders can engage in candid discussions with others who understand the pressures of executive decision-making. These groups move beyond surfacelevel networking to explore strategy, regulation, succession planning, capital management, and market trends that directly impact institutional performance. The exchange of perspectives strengthens leadership effectiveness and reinforces a sense of community across banks of all sizes.
• Networking Through Advocacy
  Advocacy events such as Capitol Day, Washington, D.C. visits, and legislative roundtables offer powerful networking opportunities by bringing bankers together around a shared mission. Standing side by side to communicate the real-world impact of policy decisions strengthens relationships while amplifying the industry’s collective voice. These experiences foster cross-functional learning, deepen understanding of the regulatory landscape, and reinforce the importance of unity in advancing banking’s role in our communities.

The Bottom Line
My challenge to each of you is simple: lean into these opportunities. Attend one more event. Join a peer group. Reach out to a banker you met at a conference last year. Invite a rising leader at your bank to attend BOLT. Sign up for Capitol Day. Share your experiences and ask about someone else’s. Our relevance as an industry depends on our willingness to show up for one another — and there is no better community than the one we have right here in Wisconsin banking.